Local News

Hot Topics:

Pa. auditor general candidates compete over who'd be best watchdog

Three candidates, including a lawmaker from West Manchester Township, have described different priorities.

By ED MAHON Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
11/06/2012 04:39:14 PM EST

John Maher (SUBMITTED)

A Republican certified public accountant, a Democratic lawyer and a Libertarian sales representative are all competing to become the state auditor general.

All three have sought to differentiate themselves on the experience and perspective they'd bring to the office.

"I'm the only auditor running for auditor general," said state Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny County. "I'm the only individual who's built businesses that have created high paying jobs for women and men. ...I'm the only candidate who's actually passed laws to improve the transparency of government."

Maher, like his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Eugene DePasquale of West Manchester Township, is a member of the state House of Representatives.

Betsy Summers (SUBMITTED)

DePasquale has highlighted his previous work at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, working to recruit wind-energy company Gamesa to the state, and his record as a lawmaker.

"I have a consistent record of being a reformer," DePasquale said.

He said he was the first legislator to post his expenses online. He said he fought for the state's Right-to-Know Law. He said he has the lowest expenses of any legislator in the state. And, during a candidate debate at the Harrisburg campus of Widener University School of Law, DePasquale said he has even bought his district office furniture at a yard sale.

Libertarian candidate Betsy Summers has said her Republican and Democratic opponents wouldn't be truly independent watchdogs for taxpayers.

Advertisement

"They have a conflict of interest," Summers said. "...As the Libertarian - you can't get more independent than that. I have no friends in Harrisburg that I need to watch out for."

Priorities

Summers said she would review her own office to "make sure that it wasn't top heavy." She said some of her top priorities would also be money spent on pensions, welfare and Medicaid services.

State Rep. Eugene DePasquale (SUBMITTED)

"I would like to take a close look at the Department of Community and Economic Development, and where our money's going, and if it's going to good use, and if it's being monitored," Summers said. "Many times money goes out to create jobs, and then someone finally goes out years later to check up on these businesses, and they don't even exist in Pennsylvania. And our money's gone."

DePasquale has said that on day one in office, he would order a review of how the state is monitoring water pollution. He said the effectiveness of job creation programs is a priority.

"I will work hard every single day to eliminate waste, so we can put money back into public education and environmental protection and reverse the cuts that have happened over the last two years," DePasquale said during the Widener debate, which was recorded by the Pennsylvania Cable Network.

DePasquale said in an interview he wants to focus on education - "to make sure that money is going into the classroom, where it needs to be" and not to "administrative waste."

Maher said environmental protection, public education spending and health-care laws are all priorities. And he said the auditor general's office "needs to be transformed completely to the modern era," so that it would focus on preventing things from going wrong, and detecting them immediately if they do."The auditor general should be a coach, not just a cop," Maher said in an interview.

What does the auditor general do?

The auditor general serves as a fiscal watchdog for the state, ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent properly and the programs they fund operate efficiently and effectively.

The candidates

Eugene DePasquale

Party: Democrat

Age: 41

Residence: West Manchester Township

Job: Legislator and attorney

Political background: DePasquale was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2006. He is a former chairman of the York County Democratic Party.

John Maher

Political background: Maher was first elected to the state House of Representatives in a 1997 special election.

Online: cpaforpa.com; Twitter @CPA4PA; http://www.facebook.com/CPA4PA

Betsy Summers

Party: Libertarian

Age: 55

Residence: Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County

Job: Sales representative for Midwest Veterinary Supply

Political background: Summers was first elected as a judge of elections in Luzerne County in 1997, and has continued to serve in the role; in 2001, she was elected to a home rule study commission, which was tasked with writing a new form of government for Luzerne County and then presenting it to voters. She has unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2004, auditor general in 2008 and state Senate in 2010.